Lubricator for air-compressors.



O. C. WRIGHT. LUBRICATOR FOR AIR COMPRESSORS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. I915.

1, 1 79,99. @rtented Apr; 18, 1916.

"n v i-" in ii "bl l Application filed March 10, 163.5.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that if, ()nvumn V /men's, n citizen of the Uniteti States oi" America, and resident of Fort i loyne, in the county of Allen anti State oi Indians, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lubricutors for Air-Coinpressors, of which the following is n specification. n

This invention rel utes to in'iproveinenis in automatic lubricutors for oir coi'npressors end the manner oi" applying; the some and the objects ore: firs, to so coi struct the device and apply the some that its operation will occur sinnlltoneously with the action of the air-compressor with will it is connectcd; second; to so apply the device to the oir-couun'essor that the piston oi the former will be rcciproceted by the alternate vacuum and pressure occurring in one end oi. the aircoinpressor cylinder as the suction and sulosequent compression takes place; and third to provide means for feeding the lubricant at n definite rate to the steam cylinder "that drives the air-compressor as Well {is to the air-compressing cylinder.

A fourth object is to so construct the de vice that its operating parts will be con toinod Within the case forming the oil reservoir.

The above objects are accomplished by the construction and. arrangement illustruteliin the accompanying drawings in whichz- Figure l is u. front elevation oi an aircompressor of the type con'imonly used on locomotives, showing the device applied thereto and with a portion of the oir eoinpressing cylinder cut away and in'section; Fig. 2 is 21 similar elevation of the device shown portly cut away and in vertical section; and Fig. 3 is n detail view of the reciprocating piston.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same: (A) is an air-con'iprcssor 01 the usual type having s steam cylinder (13) and air-compressing cylinder (0), the former lnwing a stemn Suppl pipe (D) and exhaust outlet (E), and t c latter having a screened intake pipe (F) and a, discharge pipe (G).

The lubricator is comprised of a reservoir hoving an integral bracket (.l) that orcls support for the device when attached to the lower end of the steam cylinder. A screen (llii) is arrcngeckin the upper part of the Specification of matters Patent.

I ervoir is on flex-lei e. 135222 53.

reservoir for straining the oii as it is in-- troduced into the chamber (L), and a can the top thereof.

Extending: Within the interior of the resengulor body (N) that has integrnl relat n at its side Witl'l the Wail. of the voir and like relation at its lower encl with bottom thereof and upon the exterior of tie reservoir mi n: he uncture of the or; side wall is o projecting; The

bottom of the rcserv in ilililfiti chambers (31 being; of greater (liar and coincidein;

} ii'orn'ier, extending from the well oi the re. rvoir is o threadedlmss (it). A dischnrg; port leads from the chamber (P) through it boss (T) that extends from the bottom of the reservoir, and leading into the chznnber (Q) are two feed por's (U) one! (V) respeciively,,

'ihe body (N) has mzule therein alined chambers (W) and (K) rcspectivciy, the former being of greater diameter than the latter and extending thereobove, and n port (Y) leocls from the chamber into the chamber (Q) in the bottom of the reservoir.

AIlOtllSl port (21) leads from the chamber (W) outwardly through the boss (0). A

screw plug (4:) extends into the upper end of the body to close the top of the chomber CW). Vlithin the chinnber (ii) is o. bull-valve (5) adopted to close the upper end of the chamber (X) and within the lettern-bomber is a bull-valve (6) adapted to close the upper end of the port (Y), each valve being adapted to check the downward How of lubricant passing throu sgh the chainbers.

The driving member is comprised of a piston-howl (7) having a recessed shank (8) extending from one end thereof, the recessed portion (5)) being mljucent the head. /Vhen in place the shank (8) extends into the chamber (Q) while the head (7) extends within the larger chamber (l?) and. the member is adopted to be reciprocnted therein. A compression spring (i0) is arranged in the chamber ((2) and bears against the end of the shank (8) unei serves to aid the movement of the driving member in its outward'fstrokc, The driving'n'iember is so proportioned and the ports (U) and (V) are so placed that when the clriving member is provided to close the reservoir is at the limit of its inward stroke the port (U) will communicate with the recess (9) and the enlarged portion (8) of the shank will close the port (V). The discharge port will also be closed by the pistonhead (7).

lrVhcn the driving member is at the limit of its outward stroke, the feed-port (V) will have communication with the chamber (Q), the feed port (U) will be closed, and the discharge port (5) will be open so that oil, received about the recess (9) may pass to the discharge port and become expelled. The recess (9) is made of such size that the required amount of lubricant is conveyed at each stroke of the driving member, and likewise the shank (8) is so proportioned and the feed-port (V) so placed that the desired. amount of lubricant will be forced from the chamber (Q) out through the discharge port (Y) at each stroke of the driving member.

In operating the invention the boss (R) is connected by means of a pipe (12) with one end of the aircom1 )ressing cylinder as shown at (13); the boss (T) is connected by means of a pipe (14) with the intake pipe (F) of the air-compressing cylinder; and the boss (0) is connected by means of a pipe (15) with the steam teed pipe (D). As the air-compressor is operated, the driving member Will become reciprocated, the outward stroke thereof being caused by the vacuum formed in the air-compressing cylinder during the intake of air in the upper part thereof, and the inward stroke being due to the subsequent compression that takes place in the upper part of the aircompressing cylinder. Thus, it will be understood that the driving member is reciprocated as the alternate vacuum and pressure is formed in the upper part of the aircompressing cylinder, and then only.

* a A quantity of lubricant in the reservoir cess (9), and when will pass through the. port (U) into the space within the chamber (Q) about the rethe driving member is moved to its outward position the lubricant received about the recess will be carried into the chamber (P) and the port '(U) will be closed and the discharge port (S) will be opened so that the lubricant may pass into the discharge port (S) from whenceitis directed by the pipe (14) into the suction pipe of the air cylinder. )Vhile the driving member is in its out 'ardmostposition, the port (V) will have communication with the chamber (Q) and the lubricant in the reservoir will pass thercinto, and upon the inward movement of the driving member the lubricant will be forced up through the port (Y), past the balbvalves ((3) and (5) and out through the discharge port (Z) from whence it becomes directed through the pipe (15) into the st :am teed pipe (D).

' pressing cylinder Thus, a quantity of the lubricant from the reservoir is constantly introduced into the intake of both the steam and air cylinders of the compressor during the operation of the latter, and only then.

()ne of the features of this invention is that the lubricant is introduced into the steam feed pipe in a condition suitable for the lubrication of the steam cylinder, and into the air-coi'npressing cylinder in a state peculiarly adapted for its lubrication. In the former instance the oil entering the chamber (Q) through the feed port (V) is forced bodily past the check-valves and the connecting pipe (15) into the steam feed pipe through which it is c; rried by the passing steam into the steam cylinder. The lubriiant that enters the chamber (P) after passing into the recess (9) from the feed port (U) during the outward stroke of the driving member is drawn into a nebulous state, which is partly due to vacuum formed within the chamber (P) after the enlarged portion of the shank (8) closes the feed port (U) and the subsequent relief of the vacuum thus formed by the opening of the discharge port (S). Upon the return inward stroke of the driving member immediately preceding the closure of the discharge port S) by the piston head, a slight pressure carrying the nebularized lubricant occurs within the chamber (1) that drives the lubricant in the nebular state through the connecting pipe (14-) into the suction pipe (F) of the airc0 m]')ressing cylinder. Thusfthe lubricant is introduced into the air-comin a state best suited for its lubrication. The driving member and the chambers in which it operates and the arrangement of the'feed ports and the discharge port that leads to the air-compressing cylinder are so proportioned and arranged to effect the condition of the lubricant as above stated.

By the constructionherein disclosed the device is made practically self-contained and with few parts, and furthermore the operating parts of the device being contained within the chambers made in the body of the reservoir forming the reservoir. obviates all liability of derangement thereof from external causes.

)Vhat I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described an air-compressor having a steam cylinder and air-compressing cylinder, the steam cylinder having a steam feed pipe leading thereinto and the air compressing cylinder having a suction pipe; a reservoir for liquid lubrl cant; a reciprocating driving member in connection with the reservoir, the latter having ports for the admission of fluid from the reservoir to the driving member ard having also discharge ports leading therefrom; av pipe connection between one havin ofsaid discharge ports and the steam feed pipe; a pipe. c nnectionrbetween the other of said .dIscha ge ports and the suction pipe; and a pipe connection affording communication betwl en one end bf the air-compressing cylinde' and the driving member,

discharge ports, the la ter having free com munication with the suction inlet of the aircompremor and a reciprocating drivlng member. adapted toalternately close and open said ports, one end otsaid cylinder having ind nection with the driving member.

3. In a device of the class described a reservoir] having therein an integral memberconnecting its side wall and bottom, and having also made in its bottom alined chambers and two feed ports leading from the reservoir into one of said chambers and also a discharge port leading from the other of said chambers, the integral member having a passage-way therethrough leading from the former chamber; a check valve within the integral member; and a driving member arranged within said chambers and adapted to be reciprocated therein.

4. In an automatic lubricator a reservoir having an integral member connecting its bottom and side wall, the said member having a passage-way extending therethrough; a reciprocating driving member arranged in suitable chambers made in the bottom of the reservoir, one of said chambers having communication with the opening in the integral member, and the other of said chambers having a discharge port leading therefrom, the said reservoir having also feed ports leading into the former chamber; and means within the passage way in the integral member to prevent back-flow of lubricant passing therethrough'. I

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination with an air compressor having a' suction inlet, a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of lubricant and having in its lower part a chamber, there being also inlet and outlet ports communicating with the chamber therein, the outlet port having communicating means with the suction inlet the air compressor; a reciprocating driving member adapted to alternately close and open said ports; and means independent ependent air communicating conof the ports for applying alternate pressure and vacuum to the driving member.

6. In apparatus of the class described a;

reservoir for lubricant having in the bottom thereof chambers for a driving member,'a r'eciprocating driving member operatively arranged in said chambers, said reservoir hav-- ing feed openingscommunicating with one of said chambers and a discharge opening leading from the same, there being also a discharge opening leading from the other of said chambers; and means for creating al ternate vacuum and pressure and applying 7. A lubricating device comprised of a 'reservoir having in its bottom alined chamthe same to the driving member.

bers for a driving member there being a discharge port leading from each chamber and also two feed ports leading into one of said chambers; a driving member comprised of a piston head having a shank With a recess made therein immediately adjacent the piston head, said recess being adapted to receive lubricant from one of said feed ports and convey the sameto one of said discharge ports when the driving member is actuated, the said shank being adapted to force lubricant passing the other feed port out through the other of said discharge ports; and a check valve to prevent back-flow of lubri cant through the latter discharge port.

8. In a lubricator, a reservoir having chambers in the bottom thereof with feedports affording communication therewith and also discharge ports leading therefrom; a check valve for the discharge through one of said discharge ports; a driving member arranged in said chambers and being adapted to be reciprocated therein, the shank of the driving member being adapted to open and close one of said feed portsand to force lubricant received therethrough out through one of said discharge ports, the shank of said driving member having a recess for the reception of lubricant from the other of said feed ports, the piston head of the driving member being adapted to open and close the other of'said discharge ports, the latter feed port and discharge port being so located that the former will become closed before the latter becomes opened; and means for applying alternate vacuum and pressure to the driving member to reciprocate the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ORVILLE C. WRIGHT. 

